Rugby - Vandals forced to settle for share of points

Old Paulines 9 Weybridge Vandals 9 WITH barely five minutes remaining in the game, Weybridge Vandals' scrum half John Clark kicked his side into a lead that seemed certain to ensure victory at Old Paulines on Saturday.

However, Paulines, who had enjoyed the majority of possession in the second half, refused to concede defeat and launched a final attack that resulted in a penalty that was converted from 40 metres to give the home side a share of the spoils.

The late equaliser left Vandals crestfallen, as they had fought desperately to win the game, but in the cold light of day the Weybridge side will agree that a draw was probably the fairest result.

They had dominated the first half with several promising attacks without being able to score a try, but the second half was a complete transformation with Paulines looking the more likely to score.

In fact the home side should have had at least one try but their left wing dropped the ball over the line.

Both sides were guilty of basic errors, particularly in the handling department, and it was perhaps no surprise that no tries were scored.

Paulines were the first on the offensive and it took a turn over to relieve the pressure for Vandals.

Camped in their own 22, Paulines tried to run out of defence but knocked on to give the initiative back to the visitors.

A half break by Clark led to the ball being moved wide and, when Paulines temporarily halted the Weybridge team's progress, the home side were penalised for being offside at a scrum in midfield, allowing Vandals fullback Andy Wrigley to put the first points on the board with a penalty kick.

The visitors continued to have the territorial advantage, stealing several of Paulines' line-outs and penetrating the defence to set up a series of attacking chances.

The home team briefly entered Vandals half and had an opportunity to cancel their opponents lead, but the penalty kick struck an upright and the visitors’ lead remained.

Vandals stormed back in attack with lock Andy Howe again winning possession at the line-out.

Prop Tim Whitehead made a powerful drive to tie in the defence and from the ruck Vandals could have scored out wide, but opted to move the ball inside and were held up on the line.

To rub salt into the wound, they were then penalised at the five-metre scrum and at the half time whistle, Vandals were still only three points ahead.

Early in the second half a Vandals attack broke down in midfield, allowing Pauline's to kick deep inside the visitors 22.

From the scrum, they forced Vandals to concede a penalty that was easily converted.

Buoyed up by this early score, Paulines, although still losing out in the line-out, began to win the second phase ball, with their number eight asserting himself.

They should have taken the lead with a relatively simple penalty and had a golden opportunity to score in the corner when a break in the centre set up a try scoring opportunity, only for the ball to be knocked on with the try line beckoning.

When Vandals finally got their hands on the ball, fly half Jo Da Costa made a superb break, only to slip when he looked certain to score.

However, the Weybridge side maintained the pressure by winning phase ball and forced Paulines to concede a penalty by diving in at the ruck.

Losing a player to the sin bin as well as three points was a double blow for the home side, but they fought their way back into the game with a penalty kick after Vandals were penalised for talking back to the referee.

Paulines might well have scored a try instead of the three points, but a timely interception by Vandals flanker John Cottam prevented the score.

Quick thinking by centre Darren Livett then caught Paulines napping and his kick from the restart saw Vandals go close to scoring the try that would have settled the result.

They did convert a late penalty that seemed to be enough to win the game, but Paulines last-minute kick made the scores level for a final time and ensured that the points were shared between the two sides.